James! :)

but please I'd like to know more about the event - who was there? Were Peter Hook and Tony Wilson also attending the event (I think that I remember someone mentioning they would be there, if I am not wrong)?

Were any morrissey-solo members able to be there too?

I was under the belief that the competition was open *only* to UK residents- Can anyone help me here?

It looked like a great deal of fun.

Truly,
Ken

Well having not listened to the advice of "don't come if you're not invited" I travelled from Wolverhampton to Manchester on Friday, and was fortunate to witness the event.
When I got to the Lads Club it was about 12 0'clock, not many fans around, then I noticed Jamie and his girlfriend arrive in a taxi, I asked if anyone was there yet, they didn't know, I then met Hugh (Huw?), we got chatting, as it was raining (typical Manchester) a Transit van pulled up with Bonehead and 2 other members of The Dogs, as well as all the instruments.
Hugh asked if they needed a hand with taking the equipment in, and I though, hmmmm maybe I can get in this way, it worked lol.
I was lucky enough to be alongside the band while they were doing the soundcheck, sounding good, then a break before the show went out on the air.
I took this oppertunity to see if I could meet Mike, I asked if it was ok to bother him for a minute or two, and he said sure.
I had previously spoke to Mike via his websites question and answers, which since getting a load of abuse he decided to stop doing it. We were chatting away, and I felt at ease, as I found Mike to be very approachable, Mike told me about all the abuse he used to get through the website, and I thanked him for answering all my questions (which were probably about 3000 lol), and he just stood there pulled his jacket and said " the clothes I wear, the house I live in, the car I drive, the holidays I take, it's because of you fans that I am able to have these and all I was doing was giving the fans something back".
Now is it just me, or is that a decent bloke?
We chatted for a while longer ad I managed to get my 12" Shoplifter's miss press signed by him, (as well as a birthday card for my girlfriend shhhh) and I managed to get my picture taken with him.

All in all, in my opinion, a very nice, decent, down to earth kind of guy, and I feel honoured to have met him.

Later on I got chatting with Fernando and we had a chat with Mark E Smith, won't go into detail as I found the whole experience kind of strange lol.

As for Tony Wilson and Peter (Hooky) Hook being there, I did hear a Tony Wilson interveiw being played off a recording, didn't hear Hooky tho'.
The only "famous" people I saw were Mike, Bonehead, and Mark E Smith, oh and Liz Kershaw.

Before I go, I'd like to say hello to those that I met there,

Hugh, Fernando, Ben (my lighter has now run out thanks), Jamie and his girlfriend, Dave and his mates (west bromwich is a shithole tho')
as well as Mike joyce.

James:
I just wanted to Congradulate you .. You must have been so excited!!
The Pictures are great. Oh Big Hug to you!...

Can I borrow your Gold record??..;)
hahaha

Sinceraly
Marisela

From California..

well done my son.

jealous of the disc, of course we are..........

From the Ice Age to the Dole Age
There is but one concern
And I have just discovered

Some fans are bigger than others
Some fans are bigger than others
Some fans' mothers are bigger than other fans' mothers

As Anthony said to Cleopatra
As he opened a crate of ale
" Oh I say [morrissey-solo.com] "

Some fans are bigger than others
Some fans are bigger than others
Some fans' mothers are bigger than other fans' mothers

Send me the record [morrissey-solo.com]
The one that you dream on
Send me the record
The one that you dream on
And I'll send you mine (sure...)

But does big James now realise that Morrissey probably wishes him harm after THAT photograph with Mike Joyce?
Talk about irony (take note here please Ms.Morrissette), being crowned the biggest Smiths fan of all time and burning every single bridge as regards ever finding favour with Moz all on the very same day.
Some people just have no loyalty.

they're not the best looking bunch of lads are they?

face like a slapped arse....

Anthony Perkins called, he wants his face back!

I really dont like Mike Joyce. He always seems to be in every opportunity they give him to talk about the smiths, just so he can get some attention. Hes a looser

very cool ;^)

well done Jamesy. I voted for you, so I expect something in return, a pint will do the trick just nicely.

Jesus Fucking Christ, I did not know Keith Chegwin and a young Bernard Manning were Smiths fans.

Enough of the bitching and I bid good luck to the two fatties as long as they dont pinch my chips.

Lucky for me, I only live ten miles from Salford Lads Club. It was by shear luck that I happened to find out that BBC Radio 6 was to host a special broadcast from the infamous landmark made famous by The Smiths, in honour of the twentieth anniversary of the release of ‘Hand in Glove.’

I didn’t have an invite so I thought I’d make an appearance on the off chance that I would see any of the old Smiths members floating around. I went inside the club and asked if there was any possibility of letting me in. I was refused, so I stood outside the entrance and waited to see if I would recognise anybody famous going in.

Whilst waiting in the rain I chanced upon one of the Morrissey finalist, Dave, being photographed outside the club. When they had finished taking photographs the photographer asked if I was going into the club? I told him I wasn’t on the guest list. He asked me to wait two minutes and then disappeared into the club. He came back with the producer of the show who kindly had my name added to the guest list. If she happens to be reading this, I can’t thank you enough for letting me in.

Inside Salford Lads I spotted Mike Joyce and approached him. I think I spoke to him for what seemed like a few minutes, but I think it must have been longer. He told me that at the time when The Smiths were photographed outside Salford Lads Club, non of them would have realised, at the time, that that image and the club would still be associated with The Smiths so many years later. He compared it to the classic shot of The Beatles walking across Abbey Road.

Mike was a really friendly guy and would have chatted all day. I needed to ask him one more question before I left him alone. I asked him ‘Are there any plans for The Smiths getting back together?’ His reply was that the answer didn’t lie with him. I had my photograph taken with Mike and he signed five of my albums. Cheers Mike!

Other famous people I recognised were Bonehead, ex Oasis guitarist, now a member of the Dogs and Mark E Smith, singer of The Fall.

No Tony Wilson, it was a pre-recorded interview.

The Dogs are well worth checking out, they played a really good acoustic set.

I’d like to say hello to all those I met on the day, Paul from Wolverhampton, do you think it was Morrissey you once saw on the bus in Wolverhampton? Dave, Better luck next time. Fletcher, Thanks for the demo CD by ‘The Second Floor,’ BBC Radio 6 Producer, sorry I can’t remember your name and the Staff at Salford Lads Club for the endless coffee.

... but what qualifies this person as "the biggest Smiths fan in the world"? For a start, he's 18 years old, which would have made him only 12 when Morrissey last released an album. James, bless him, wasn't even born when The Smiths released "Hand In Glove". Sure, he has the sideburns and I'm sure he loves Morrissey & The Smiths as much as the rest of us.

But what about someone like Julia Riley, who went to _every_ gig on the last tour. What about David T, who has spent huge amounts of his own money & thousands of hours making this site for us, the fans. What about someone like Beau on the marketplace whose collection of Smiths & Morrissey records is legendary. What about all the people who make fanzines, websites, play in cover bands. How can you say one person is _the_ biggest Smiths fan in the world?

that Morrissey should have won the contest.